The California Chamber of Commerce is urging small business owns to contact their Legislators and the Governor to express strong opposition to SB 654 (Jackson; D-Santa Barbara).

The bill, identified as a job killer, threatens to significantly harm small businesses in California who employ as few as 20 employees, by proposing yet another protected leave of absence mandate. The proposal requires 6 weeks of protected employee leave for maternity or paternity leave, and exposes all employers to the threat of costly litigation.

Click here to send a letter to your legislators and the Governor.

Using the gut and amend process, SB 654 revives the language of a previously dead job killer bill that failed because lawmakers recognized the harmful impact it would have on California job climate.  In the final weeks of session and after some membership changes to the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, Senator Jackson has brought the measure back.  Businesses are outraged because the bill imposes significant burdens as they attempt to manage a productive and profitable business while also juggling the cumulative impact of all available protected leaves in California.

This bill would make California the only state in the nation to impose the lengthy list of protected leaves of absence available here.  Existing programs California employees may access now include the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), paid family leave, pregnancy disability, military spouse leave, organ donation, bone marrow, school activities, volunteer firefighting, reserve peace officer and emergency rescue personnel leave, civil air patrol and paid sick leave.

Key Vote

SB 654 passed the Assembly Labor and Employment committee yesterday.

The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee; no hearing date has been set.

Action Needed

Contact your legislators and the Governor and ask them to oppose SB 654.